A GREAT FAMILY FRIENDLY PUB

Historic and Ancient pub

Serving great, home-cooked food

6 En-suite Bedrooms

Book now!

HQ of Cliffe Bonfire Society

Nulli Secundus

Serving Harvey's real ales

Celebrating 225 years of excellence

Welcome to The Dorset a 300 year old pub in the historic town of Lewes

The Dorset is one of Harvey & Son’s oldest pubs, built in 1670 on the site of an illegal workhouse, and is about 100 steps from the famous Bridge Wharf brewery. Parts of the original building still form areas of the pub today. Our sign earned the pub a nickname; The Cats, and shows the coat of arms of the Sackville’s - the Earls of Dorset - who kept 2 snow leopards as household pets and claimed ownership of the area between 1588–1842. For the last 160 years the pub as been the headquarters of the legendary Cliffe Bonfire Society,
now in our fourth century. Lee & Melissa along with their team, look forward to welcoming you to eat, drink, sleep and relax.

OUR PUB & TOWN

Accommodation in the heart of the town

We're located under the famous 'Cliffe' at the lower end of Lewes town centre, close to the South Downs Way and just a stones throw from Brighton. With lots of room it's a great family pub, walkers are welcome and if you're a cyclist we've always got somewhere to store your bike.
We have 6 ensuite bedrooms, all are comfortable and good value, with free WiFi, a TV and a late night security card entrance. Book your room today.

Food, glorious food

Head Chef James Wyatt and his team create delicious pub classics using local suppliers and there's definitely something for everyone. Sandwiches, great veggie and vegan options, child portions of all our main meals and our function menus.
We serve food Monday to Thursday, 12-3pm, 6-9pm, Friday to Saturday from 12pm - 9pm and on Sundays we serve traditional roast dinners and serve between 12pm-4pm.

The history of bonfire in Lewes

The Lewes Bonfire Night is the biggest Fifth of November Event in the world, and is known as either the Lewes Bonfire Night Celebrations, Lewes Bonfire Night or just simply the Fifth. It commemorates the fall of Guy Fawkes, the failure of the Gunpowder Plot, and remembers the Seventeen Martyrs that were burnt near the Lewes War Memorial between 1555-1557. Currently there are 7 bonfire societies based in Lewes, although there have been as many as 25 in the past, while many of the smaller towns and villages in East Sussex also have their own society. On the night of the 5th they lead their processions through the town, each with their own traditions, costumes, bonfire, fireworks, tableaux, effigies and set pieces to their own fire sites.
For more info and history visit The history of Lewes Bonfire.